Horse-shoe type, plate-shaped, plastic hoof fitting

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a horseshoe-like, plate-configured hoof pad of plastic material having two legs, which can be adapted to the size of the hoof by means of changing their distance with respect to one another, having the form of a connecting bar which can be engaged with the legs of the pad in the area of their ends, which pad is provided with a running surface covered by profile bodies. The connecting bar is configured as surface covering, separate snug-fit-piece completing the circumference of the leg ends essentially completely in order to connect them to each other and forming itself a circumferential configuration filling within the leg ends back-cut-recesses in form of flat, lateral bows, wherein moreover the snug-fit-piece can be inserted into the surface or, respectively, running surface of the leg ends in which it can be essentially completely integrated in order to keep the leg ends in configurational and force transmitting connection to one another and to make the snug-fit-piece for the purpose of exchange removable from the leg ends. At least some of the profile bodies are defined by a border in order to form a depression in each of which at least one hoof nail can be placed.  
     In order to improve the abrasive resistance as well as the damping of impacts and to reduce the danger of injury, especially with respect to stress on tendons of the horse legs as well as in general in order to keep the horse in good health or, respectively, to recover ill animals with respect to their foot and leg articulations, the invention proposes that the head portion ( 2 ) connecting the two legs ( 7 ) of the pad ( 1 ) is provided with a flat front side edge ( 4 ) and a running face portion ( 13 ) on the running surface ( 11 ) of the pad extending on both sides of the center axis (A-A) of the pad up to essentially the outer edge of the legs ( 7 ), which running surface portion is free of nob-like profile bodies ( 9 ) and is provided with a wedge-like cross section ( 5 ) increasing in the direction to the leg ends ( 3 ) in order to provide in the center axis (A-A) a width (D) corresponding in the area of the center axis (A-A) about half of the width of the head portion ( 2 ) between its front side edge ( 4 ) and its rear edge ( 15 ), whereas within the head portion ( 2 ) the running surface portion ( 13 ) being free of profile bodies is followed by a running surface portion ( 20 ) covered by nob-like profile bodies ( 9 ).

[0001] The invention concerns a horseshoe-like, plate-like hoof pad of plastic material having two legs, which can be adapted to the size of the hoof by a device for changing the distance of the two legs with respect to one another, which device having the form of a connecting bar engageable with the legs of the pad within the area of their ends, which pad having a lower surface contacting the underground provided with profile elements. The connecting bar is configured as a surface covering, separate snug-fit-piece, completing essentially completely the form of the circumference of the ends of the legs in order to connect them to each other, whereas these ends are also provided with a circumferential configuration filling excesses cut into the ends of the legs in form of surface covering, lateral bows. Moreover, the snug-fit-piece can be inserted into the surface or lower face of the ends of the legs and can be essentially completely integrated therein, in order to maintain the ends of the legs connected with one another due to configuration and force and in order to replace the snug-fit-piece by removing it from the ends of the legs, wherein at least some of the profile elements are defined by an edge for the formation of a depression in each of which at least one hoof nail may be placed.

[0002] Hoof pads of this type are for instance known from the EP 893 057. These known hoof pads are provided with distantly arranged legs within the frog portion of the hoof

[0003] A line of holes of the hoof pad in the area of the white line of the hoof is used for attaching the pad to the hoof. This known hoof pad is especially characterized by the possibility to adapt it to different hoof sizes by spreading the legs of the pad in a certain extent within the range of their ends, so that one size of pad is suitable for several hoof sizes as the required size of the hoof pad can be attained by using plate-like connecting means between the ends of the legs by which the hoof pad can be spread or, respectively, contracted so that the line of holes within the pad can be located over the respective white line of the hoof. The known connecting means show different embodiments, such for instance a clip, the free end of which may be continuously adjusted and attached to the adjacent other end of the clip by screwing, sticking together or welding. Moreover, crosspieces are also proposed, which are shiftable with respect to one another, bridging the distance between the ends of the legs of the hoof pad by means of a connecting screw device.

[0004] In each case the known bar-like connecting means are structured such that they only connect the ends of the legs defining the frog opening, but do not form a uniform closure of the ends of the legs. Thus, the connecting means are either asymmetrically configured with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hoof pad, covering only one of the legs or in case of a symmetrical configuration the connecting bars establish only a point-like connection of the ends of the legs by means of screws, which ends are provided with screw bores corresponding to respective bores within the connecting bars, into which the corresponding screws are inserted.

[0005] Moveover, the known hoof pads are provided with a nap-like structure of the bottom surface, consisting of single naps connected to each other by bars the height of which is less than the height of the naps. By such a bottom surface the hoof provided with the hoof pad should be secured against sliding on its underground.

[0006] It has been found out that the attachment of the hoof pad by means of known nails requesting precise adjustment of the pad on the hoof so that the nails hit the so-called white line of the hoof, is time-consuming and cannot be exactly turned out, because of the fact that the points of the nails often intend to move laterally upon hitting the nails by a hammer because of the flexibility of the plastic material of the pad, so that the so-called white line is failed.

[0007] The published European patent application 00 109 538.9 includes a proposal even more pertinent to the mentioned subject matter, because it describes the connection of the ends of the legs of the hoof pad by means of a connecting bar configured as a snug-fit-piece insertable into recesses within the ends of the legs in form of flat lateral bows.

[0008] The use of such a snug-fit-piece between the ends of the legs of the hoof pad results especially therein that the ends of the legs are fixed between so that under load they do not spread in such an extent as they will do so when as the connecting means for the two ends of the legs only a narrow, straight or bent bar is used which is fixed to the ends of the legs. The proposed snug-fit-piece which is able to connect the ends of the legs in configurational respect as well as symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hoof pad and thus to the legs is advantageous therein that it counteracts the forces affecting the ends of the legs during the use of the hoof pad, which forces intend to deform the ends of the legs. Because of the special configuration of the circumference of the snug-fit-piece the withhold forces developped by the snug-fit-piece piece are transferred into an essentially larger cross section of the ends of the legs resulting in a less stress of the material of the ends of the legs so that the connecting bar cannot break under load. This is of essential importance, because the deformation resistance of the plastic material under the influence of pressure and temperature is less than that of common materials for hoof pads, namely metals.

[0009] Moreover, the use of snug-fit-pieces as connecting means enables a relatively simple adaptation of a definite size of the hoof pad to different hoofs, especially to different locations of the so-called white line of the hoof, which is the only means for the reception of fastening means, for instance hoof nails or screws. Thus, by means of different sizes of snug-fit-pieces a definite size of hoof plate can be spread in a certain extent within the frog area.

[0010] Besides these apparent improvements the known or, respectively, the proposed hoof pads have in comparison with the common hoof pads further changes of the hoof pad should be provided according to the subject invention in order to improve health and effectiveness of the legs or hoofs, respectively, of horses taking especially into account the natural hoof function and the anatomic structure of the horse foot, its capacity of bearing a load and its displacement of weights as well as force effects and, respectively, load effects, considering inter alia the behaviour of wild horses.

[0011] This object is solved according to the invention by providing the head part connecting the two legs of the pad with a flat front edge and the running surface of the pad with a running surface portion extending at both sides of the middle axis of the pad essentially to the outer edge of the legs, which portion is free of profile bodies and is provided with a wedge-shaped cross section enlarged in the direction of the ends of the legs and having on the middle axis a width corresponding to about half of the width of the head portion between its front edge and its rear edge, wherein within the head portion adjacent to the running surface portion which is free of profile bodies a further running surface portion is located provided with nob-like profile bodies.

[0012] By this configuration of the hoof pad, especially the rolling quality of the bottom surface of the hoof pad on the ground is improved simultaneously reducing the abrasion of the material so that the load on the hoof and thus the dispersion of forces affecting the horse foot are improved resulting therein that the danger to injure the foot bones or, respectively the horse legs as well as pathological deformations of the bone structure are essentially reduced even under extreme loads as they will for instance be observed on competition horses.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the lifetime of the hoof pad can be improved further by putting the connecting bar after its insertion at the ends of the legs under tension and not under pressure because pressure can result in bowing the bar.

[0014] Moreover it is also advantageous to provide the running surface of the pad adjacent to the head portion connecting the two legs, with slot-like configured cavities extending in the direction of the width of the legs and being separated from each other by dumb-like profile bodies and being able to receive the heads of hoof nails which are hammered into the so-called white line of the hoof.

[0015] Further advantageous embodiments are characterized in the sub-claims.

[0016] The invention will be explained in further detail on the basis of the drawings in which

[0017]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the lower or, respectively, bottom side of the hoof pad provided with an installed snug-fit-piece,

[0018]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the hoof pad of FIG. 1 along the line A-A provided with an inserted connecting bar or snug-fit-piece,

[0019]FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the round hole figuration at “C” in FIG. 1, and

[0020]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the legs along the line B-B in FIG. 1.

[0021] The plate-like configured hoof pad 1 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises basically the known hoofshoe-like configuration, what means that it is provided with two legs 7 as well as for adaptation to the size of the hoof with means for changing the distance of the legs with respect to one another in form of a connecting bar 8, also called distance piece. This connecting bar can be brought in engagement with the legs 7 of the hoof in the area of the ends 3 by inserting the bulging ends of the connecting bar into correspondingly configurated surface recesses of the legs 7. The pad I is provided with a running surface 11 covered with nob-like profile bodies 9, and the connecting bar 8 is a surface covering, separate snug-fit-piece, which essentially completely completes the circumferential configuration of the ends of the legs 3 in order to connect them to each other providing itself a circumferential configuration 27 which fills a back-cut recess 10 in the ends of the legs 3 in form of flat lateral bows. The connecting bar 8 can be inserted into the surface or, respectively, running surface 11 of the ends of the legs 3 and can be essentially completely integrated in these ends, in order to maintain the leg ends connected in configurational and force transmitting respect. On the other hand, the connecting bar can be removed from the ends of the legs if it is necessary because of the inherent abrasion. At least some of the profile bodies 9 are configured as dumb-bell-like profile bodies 17, within which slot-like depressions 16 are provided, in each of which at least one hoof nail can be placed, not shown.

[0022] As can be gathered from FIG. 1 the head portion 2 connecting the two legs 7 of the pad 1 is provided with a flat front side edge 4 as well as with a running surface portion 13 on the running surface 11 of the pad at both sides of the center axis A-A of the pad, extending essentially to the outer edge of the leg 7, which running surface portion 13 is free of profile bodies of any kind especially nob-like profile bodies 9 and is provided with a wedge-shaped cross section 5 being emerged in the direction of the ends of the legs 3 as shown especially in FIG. 2. This running surface portion 13 has in the center axis A-A a width D corresponding in this area of the center axis to about half of the width of the head portion 2 in its front edge 4 and its rear edge 15. Within the head portion 2 the running surface portion 13 which is free of profile bodies is followed by a running surface portion 20 covered with nob-like profile bodies 9. On this running surface portion the profile bodies 9 are located in several lines behind one another and at least partly in gaps. Those nob-like profile bodies 9 having the smallest distance from the edge 15 are connected to one another by a bar 24.

[0023] Nob-like profile bodies 9 have partly a round and partly a dumb-bell-like cross section as shown in FIG. 1, and the running surface 11 of the pad 1 following up the head portion 2 connecting the two legs 7 is provided with slot-like depressions 16 extending in the direction of the width of the legs 7 and separated from one another by the dumb-bell-like profile bodies 17. These depressions 16 receive as explained above the heads of hoof nails which are to bei hammered into the so-called white line of the hoof in order to fix pad 1 with the horse hoof as a common iron hoof pad.

[0024] As can be gathered from FIG. 1, the last slot-like depression 16 in the direction of the ends 3 of the legs is just in front of the connecting bar 8 so that the bar or, respectively, the leg portion carrying it is not affected.

[0025] In the area of the ends 3 of the legs the running surface 11 is provided with nob-like profile bodies 9 dispersed over the width and length of the legs 7, the arrangement being such that these profile bodies are arranged following up the slot-like depressions 16 or, respectively, dumb-bell-like profile bodies 17 in the direction of the ends of the legs.

[0026] In order to stabilize those profile bodies 9 located at the outer edge of the pad they are connected to each other by a bar 23 similar to the bar 24 at the outer edge 15 of the head portion 2. In order to avoid extreme polution of the running surface 11, it is advantageous to slant the rear outer edge 15 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] Between the profile bodies 9 and 17 there are several rounded holes 25 for the reception of pins 26, which can be, if necessary, screwed into these rounded holes in order to further improve the reliability of the pad during use. In this connection it has been found especially advantageous to arrange one of these rounded holes 25 on both sides of the center axis A-A of the head portion 2 of the pad and at least one further of these rounded holes in each of the two leg ends 3.

[0028] The size or width, respectively, of the pad, what means especially the distance of the legs 7 from one another can be adjusted in the manner known per se by means of separate connecting bars 8 or, respectively, snug-fit-pieces. In this connection, the dimensions of the connecting bar are such that the leg ends 3 are under tension if the connecting bar is installed, because it has been found out that the leg ends under pressure intend to bow the connecting bar 8 resulting possibly in an intolerable abration of the material, so that the pad consisting commonly of polyurethane has to be renewed all too soon.

[0029] The connecting bar can be fixed as shown at 28 in FIG. 1 to the legs 7 or, respectively, their ends 3 by screws. The lateral elements 28 on pad 1 improve its correct seat.

[0030] The special embodiments as shown partly in FIG. 3 and 4 are of importance with respect to the configuration of the rounded hole 25 and the slot-like depression 16.

[0031] The rounded holes 25 extend conically in the direction to the end of the hole located at the hoof The rounded holes have a smooth inner wall, and the plastic material of pad 1 is at least in the area of these rounded holes so elastic that the pin 26 may be strongly screwed into the rounded holes and leave no screw-thread-prints if they are removed from the rounded holes by screwing. The elasticity module of the plastic material is in this connection 800 MPa. The taper of the rounded holes is between 2° and 5°, preferably 3°.

[0032] The inside diameter of the rounded holes at their outer free end opposing the end at the hoof is thus because of the taper or conical configuration about 0.2 to 0.3 mm greater than the outside diameter of the thread portion of the pin 26.

[0033] As can be gathered from FIG. 4, the slot-like depressions 16 are provided with a bottom 105, the thickness of which is such that the white line of the hoof can be observed in case of use of clear or transparent plastic material. On the white line the depressions 16 will be located into which the hoof nails are hammered if the hoof pad is fixed to the hoof

[0034] As moreover disclosed in FIG. 4, the bottom 105 of the slot-like depressions 16 is provided with a thickness which is smaller than the thickness of the plastic material surrounding these depressions. The bottom can be provided with at least one hole not shown in the drawings for the reception of the tip or, respectively, the shaft of the hoof nail. The depressions 16 are surrounded by the border 103, the height of which corresponds to the height of the head of the hoof nail so that the hoof nail head can be completely dropped in the depression. The length of the depressions 16 corresponds at least twice the length of the hoof nail head. The border 103 is advantageously the depression completely surrounding.

[0035] Moreover can be seen that the slot-like depressions 16 have a conical cross section of such a kind that the upper border 103 of the depressions are outwardly extended with respect to their lower border 130 defining the bottom 105.

[0036] The slot-like or longitudinal-like depressions are at least in the front area of the pad 1 arranged on both sides of the center axis A-A in equal distances and are, as shown in FIG. 1, essentially located in the upper half of the hoof pad.

[0037] The plastic material of the pad 1 is advantageously polyurethane, may, however, also be a polyamide and may, if necessary, include a reinforcing material in form of glass fibers, carbon fibers or metal fibers or, respectively, threads or bodies or mixtures of these materials, whereby additionally and in order to further improve the strength of the materials these fibers, threads and other bodies or mixtures thereof extend in the level of the plate-like pad and thus parallel to the lower side of the hoof pad or the upper side of the hoof pad, but also inclined or rectangular to the level of the plate-like pad. The arrangement of these fibers, threads and other bodies within the plastic material can be straight or random.

[0038] Moreover, the head portion 2 has essential advantages because of its flat front side edge 4 or, respectively, its wedge-like cross section 5 concerning the dispersion of the weight within the hoof and furthermore the stress on the tendons of the horse leg. These advantages are of great importance with respect to the recovery of sick horses with respect to their feet and leg articulations. Moreover, by these and other above mentioned characteristics of the hoof pad, the abrasion of the hoof can either be completely avoided or essentially diminished, and the shock dampening can be improved as well as the danger of injuries is reduced. 

1. Horseshoe-like, plate-configured hoof pad (1) of plastic material having two legs (7), which can be adapted to the size of the hoof by means of changing their distance with respect to one another, having the form of a connecting bar (8) which can be engaged with the legs (7) of the pad in the area of their ends (3), which pad is provided with a running surface (11) covered by profile bodies (9) and the connecting bar (8) is configured as a surface covering, separate snug-fit-piece completing the circumference of the leg ends (3) essentially completely in order to connect them to each other and forming itself a circumferential configuration filling within the leg ends (3) back-cut-recesses (10) in form of flat, lateral bows, wherein moreover the snug-fit-piece can be inserted into the surface or, respectively, running surface (11) of the leg ends (3) in which it can be essentially completely integrated in order to keep the leg ends in configurational and force transmitting connection to one another and to make the snug-fit-piece for the purpose of exchange removable from the leg ends and wherein at least some of the profile bodies (9) are defined by a border in order to form a depression in each of which at least one hoof nail can be placed, characterized in that the head portion (2) connecting the two legs (7) of the pad (1) is provided with a flat front side edge (4) and a running face portion (13) on the running surface (11) of the pad extending on both sides of the center axis (A-A) of the pad up to essentially the outer edge of the legs (7), which running surface portion is free of nob-like profile bodies (9) and is provided with a wedge-like cross section (5) increasing in the direction to the leg ends (3) in order to provide in the center axis (A-A) a width (D) corresponding in the area of the center axis (A-A) about half of the width of the head portion (2) between its front side edge (4) and its rear edge (15), whereas within the head portion (2) the running surface portion (13) being free of profile bodies is followed by a running surface portion (20) covered by nob-like profile bodies (9).
 2. Hoof pad according to claim 1, characterized in that in the area of the leg ends (3) extending over the width and length of the legs (7), nob-like profile bodies (9) are dispersed on the running surface (11).
 3. Hoof pad according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the nob-like profile bodies (9) are following in the direction of the leg ends (3) to the slot-like depression (16) or, respectively, dumb-bell-like profile bodies (17).
 4. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the nob-like profile bodies (9) adjacent to the outer border edges (21, 22) of the leg ends (3) are connected by a bar (23).
 5. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the nob-like profile bodies (9) are arranged in several lines behind one another and at least partly in an alternating manner.
 6. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-5, characterized in that each nob-like profile body (9) is provided partly with a round cross section and partly with a dumb-bell-like cross section.
 7. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-6, characterized in that the backside border edge (15) of the head portion (2) is slanted.
 8. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-7, characterized in that those nob-like profile bodies (9) which are at nearest positioned to the backside border edge (15) of the head portion (2) are connected by a bar (24).
 9. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-8, characterized in that several rounded holes (25) are located for the reception of pins (26) between the profile bodies (9, 17).
 10. Hoof pad according to claim 9, characterized in that at least some of these rounded holes (25) are arranged on both sides of the center axis (A-A) of the head portion (2) of the pad and that at least a further one of these rounded holes (25) is located in each of the two leg ends (3).
 11. Hoof pad according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the rounded holes (25) provide a smooth inner wall and that the plastic material of the pad (1) is at least in the area of the rounded holes so elastical, that the pins (26) can be strongly screwed into the rounded holes (25) leaving no thread print if they are extracted from the rounded holes.
 12. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 9-11, characterized in that the rounded holes (25) are conically tapering in direction to the hole end adjacent to the hoof tapering.
 13. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 9-12, characterized in that the rounded holes (25) are configured as lined holes.
 14. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-13, characterized in that the running surface (11) of the pad (1) adjacent to the head portion (2) connecting two legs (7) provided with slot-like depressions (16) extending in the direction of the width of the legs (7) and separated from one another by dumb-bell-like profile bodies (17) and provided for the reception of the heads of hoof nails which are to be hammered into the so-called white line of the hoof.
 15. Hoof pad according to claim 14, characterized in that the last slot-like depression (16) located in the direction of the leg ends (3) is arranged just in front of the connection bar (8).
 16. Hoof pad according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the bottom (105) of the slot-like depressions (16) comprises a thickness making in case of clear or transparent plastic material the white line of the hoof visible, on which white line the depressions (16) can be positioned into which the hoof nails are hammered.
 17. Hoof pad according to claim 16, characterized in that the bottom (105) of the slot-like depressions (16) comprises a thickness which is smaller than the thickness at least of the plastic material surrounding these depressions (16).
 18. Hoof pad according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that within the bottom (105) of the slot-like depressions (16) is provided at least one hole for the reception of the tip or, respectively, the shaft of a hoof nail.
 19. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 14-18, characterized in that the slot-like depressions (16) are defined by a border (103).
 20. Hoof pad according to claim 19, characterized in that the height of the border (103) of the slot-like depressions (16) corresponds to the height of a hoof nail head.
 21. Hoof pad according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the border (103) is contineously surrounding the depression.
 22. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 14-20, characterized in that the length of the slot-like depressions (16) corresponds at least twice the length of a hoof nail head.
 23. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 14-20, characterized in that the slot-like depressions (16) are arranged in equal distances on both sides of the center axis (A-A) at least in the front area of pad (1).
 24. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 14-23, characterized in that the slot-like depressions (16) comprise a conical cross section of the kind that the upper border (103) of the depressions is extended outwardly with respect to their lower border (130) defining the bottom (105).
 25. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 14-24, characterized in that the slot-like depressions (16) are located essentially or exclusively in the upper half of the hoof pad.
 26. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-25, characterized in that the elasticity module of the plastic material does not exceed 800 MPa at least in the area of the rounded holes (25).
 27. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 12-20, characterized in that the conical configuration of the rounded holes (25) comprises 2° and 5°, preferably 3°.
 28. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 9-25, characterized in that the inside diameter of the rounded holes (25) is at their outer free end opposite to the end adjacent to the hoof about 0.2 to 0.3 mm greater, than the outside diameter of the thread portion of pins (26).
 29. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-28, characterized in that the connecting bar (8) is under tension after it has been mounted in the leg ends.
 30. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-29, characterized in that the plastic material of the pad (1) is polyurethane.
 31. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-29, characterized in that the plastic material is polyamide.
 32. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 1-131, characterized in that the plastic material is reinforced by other material.
 33. Hoof pad according to claim 32, characterized in that the reinforcing material comprises fibers, threads, bodies or mixtures thereof of glass.
 34. Hoof pad according to claim 32, characterized in that the reinforcing material comprises fibers, threads, bodies or mixtures thereof of carbon.
 35. Hoof pad according to claim 32, characterized in that the reinforcing material comprises fibers, threads, bodies or mixtures thereof of metal.
 36. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 33-35, characterized in that the bodies have the configuration of balls.
 37. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 33-35, characterized in that the fibers, threads, other bodies or mixtures thereof are arranged in alignment within the level of the plate-like pad (1) and thus parallel with respect to the lower side of the hoof or upper side of the hoof.
 38. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 33-35, characterized in that the fibers, threads, other bodies or mixtures thereof are aligned in a level inclined or rectangular to the level of the plate-like pad (1) and thus to the lower side of the hoof pad or upper side of the hoof pad.
 39. Hoof pad according to one of the claims 33-35, characterized in that the fibers, threads, other bodies or mixtures thereof are disorderly arranged within the plastic material. 